Frost dates for Darrington Ranger Station, WA
At Darrington Ranger Station, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 16 and the median first fall frost is Oct 23, for a typical growing season of 190 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 5. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 8b.
- Apr 16Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 5Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 23First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 190 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 17 | May 3 | May 20 |
| 32°F | Mar 27 | Apr 16 | May 5 |
| 28°F | Mar 1 | Mar 22 | Apr 10 |
| 24°F | Jan 16 | Feb 26 | Mar 19 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 25 | Oct 8 | Oct 23 |
| 32°F | Oct 6 | Oct 23 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Oct 20 | Nov 7 | Nov 29 |
| 24°F | Nov 4 | Nov 27 | Dec 23 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 134 days | 156 days | 178 days |
| 32°F | 164 days | 190 days | 216 days |
| 28°F | 203 days | 232 days | 263 days |
| 24°F | 244 days | 276 days | 317 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
Closest ZIP codes (each is closer to another station)
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98252 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 24 km |
| 98223 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 26 km |
| 98267 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 29 km |
| 98237 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 31 km |
| 98241 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 35 km |
| 98251 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 39 km |
| 98255 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 41 km |
| 98274 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 41 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00451992, at 48.2600, -121.6036, elevation 168 m (550 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 15 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 102.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Concrete Ppl Fish Station (33 km)
- Darrington 21 NNE (33 km)
- Arlington (39 km)
- Upper Baker Dam (44 km)
- Startup 1 E (45 km)
- Newhalem (53 km)
- Sedro-Woolley (54 km)
- Everett (54 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.